Farmhouse Bathroom Ideas on A Budget: 15 Tips

15 Farmhouse Bathroom Ideas On A Budget

Redoing your bathroom can be fun and easy, but you will be amazed at the difference it can make in your whole home. Luckily, bathroom remodels don't have to break the bank either. You can achieve a beautiful remodel with a couple of hacks, DIY projects, and thrifty purchases.

Farmhouse bathrooms are still all the rage with their classic and welcoming style. Let's look at 15 farmhouse bathroom ideas that are budget-friendly so you can start your bathroom makeover today.

1. Add a Frame to Your Vanity Mirror

Framing your vanity mirror is an instant way to elevate the space. To keep it in the farmhouse style, choose a natural wood mirror. You can thrift one from a secondhand furniture store, or make your own with wood pieces custom cut from Home Depot. Take your measurements and they can cut the size you need. 

Image courtesy of Wayfair

You can leave the wood in its natural shade or stain it darker. All in all, this is a quick and super inexpensive project that will make a big statement in your bathroom. If you have access to reclaimed wood and feel like getting crafty, that will take the farmhouse look to a new level. 

2. Change Your Light Fixture

Most bathrooms come with plain vanity lights over the mirror, but you can swap those out for a light fixture that fits with the farmhouse theme better. 

Image courtesy of Lamps Plus

The farmhouse style mixes down-home comfort with minimal and industrial textures, so simple black sconces with Edison lightbulbs are perfect. If you want more flair, look for mason jars as a sconce cover. You could even repurpose some old mason jars and make it yourself!

3. Refurbish a New Bathroom Vanity

A quintessential farmhouse-style bathroom staple is a beautiful bathroom vanity that was refurbished from an antique dresser. It adds the perfect vintage element and stands out from the rest of your minimal decor. 

If you don't already have a dresser you can use, start hunting for one at flea markets, thrift stores, and estate sales. All you need to do to turn it into a vanity is add the sink. You could also use an antique cabinet or table.

You can get creative with your sink and use something non-traditional here as well. Most people add a floating sink to make the DIY easier, and it's a great look. 

4. Add a Rustic Stool or Chair

This simple addition will quickly take your bathroom in the farmhouse direction you're going for. You can find a rustic stool or chair at just about any thrift store for a great price. Don't look for perfection. Weathered wood actually matches the look even more.

Leave it in its natural wood color or stain it, but stick to natural wood colors. If you do want to paint it, stick to farmhouse white.

Place the stool or chair in a corner or by the ledge of your bathtub. It's a great place to keep towels or even a plant.

5. Incorporate Wicker Baskets

If you can't tell already, the farmhouse style is all about natural materials and textures. Wicker is a gorgeous staple that adds a minimal yet sophisticated look. 

Incorporate a couple of wicker baskets for storage. You can use one on the back of your toilet to hold toilet paper. If your bathroom vanity has open shelving, use a couple of baskets for storage. You can even find a beautiful wicker laundry basket for your dirty clothes. 

This may seem like a small element, but it adds a lot of cohesion to your decor. Plus, wicker is inexpensive and easy to find, so it's a swap that is done in no time.

If you want to take it up a notch, try DIYing a mini wicker basket mural on one of your bathroom walls. 

6. Add Subway Tile in Your Shower and Bathtub

Subway tile is another farmhouse-style staple, and luckily, it's one of the most inexpensive tile options out there.

If you've never tiled your own bathroom before, don't worry, it's easier than it looks. You can find step-by-step instructions here. 

7. Add a Shiplap Wall

When you think, "farmhouse," white shiplap might be the first thing that comes to mind. It's classic, understated, and pretty, so it's no wonder it's become so popular. 

If adding shiplap to your entire bathroom feels overwhelming, consider adding just one shiplap accent wall. Having just one wall will actually make the shiplap stand out more.

This project is a little more time-consuming, but it's still budget-friendly. If you don't feel like getting out your hammer and nails, there is even wallpaper that looks like shiplap and will get the job done.

8. Add a Floating Barn Wood Shelf 

Floating shelves are minimal and chic, and they add great storage and decor opportunities. You can make your own shelf with reclaimed barn wood and industrial pipes. 

Image courtesy of West Elm

Stain the wood a natural color that matches the rest of your bathroom, and secure the pipes to your wall. Then you can simply float your wood shelves on the pipes, and voila! A beautiful farmhouse shelf. 

9. Paint Your Vanity Cabinet

If you don't want to totally replace your vanity, you can still update its look with an easy paint job. If you have white walls, painting the vanity black will add a nice contrast. If you want a pop of color, choose something warm like navy blue or olive green.

If your vanity is wood, you can also strip it and stain it a dark wood color to match the farmhouse style. If you added a wood frame to your vanity mirror, try matching the vanity cabinet to its color.  

Another way to redo the vanity you already have is to swap out the hardware on the drawers. A quick paint job and new handles will make you feel like you have a whole new vanity. 

10. Swap Out Your Bathroom Rugs

This is another swap that's so simple but makes a great statement. Since the farmhouse style is all about natural materials, try finding jute bath mats and rugs. 

If you want to pull in a vintage element, you could look for a beautiful rug for your vanity. Most vintage rugs come in warm hues like deep reds and blues, so they can add some color without being too wild. 

11. Change the Hardware

This is another simple and inexpensive DIY that anyone can do. Don't just stop at your sink hardware. You can always swap out your shower knobs and bathtub faucet. If you want to go a step further, you can thrift a beautiful vintage doorknob for the bathroom door. 

Image courtesy of Wayfair

Black or gold hardware are popular options for farmhouse bathrooms. Look for sleek shapes and lines. 

12. Add Bathroom Plants

Incorporate some nature into your bathroom by adding a plant or two. Choose plants that love humidity and can stand low light, unless you have a bright window or fluorescent lights.

You can hang your plants from the ceiling, set them on your floating shelf or rustic chair, or add it to your vanity. 

For a simple DIY, string together some eucalyptus branches and hang them around your shower head. It looks beautiful, and when you turn on the water it'll create steam that smells amazing and is great for your sinuses.

13. Change Your Shower Curtain

Glass shower doors are the first choice for the farmhouse style, but if that isn't an option, you can still incorporate the look by getting a new shower curtain.

Image courtesy of West Elm

Most shower curtains have loud patterns with bright colors, but they don't match the more sleek farmhouse vibe. Choose a crisp white or black shower curtain to match the look, or go with another neutral color you love.

14. Add an Industrial Pipe Towel Bar

Most towel racks are plain and boring. Add something more in line with the theme, like an industrial pipe towel bar. Another great option is a couple of sleek black hooks. Both of these options are inexpensive and super easy to install.

15. Invest in New Crisp White Towels

In case you need someone to tell you: it's time to get new towels. In fact, most of us use towels for way longer than we should, which makes our bathroom look dingy. 

Image courtesy of West Elm

Now that you have a beautiful new farmhouse towel rack, you need nice towels to display. If updating your towel rack wasn't an option, you can keep your towels on your floating shelf or rustic chair.

Fresh white linens are a critical part of the farmhouse look, so don't forget to update the hand towel too. It will add a nice clean look to your vanity. 

Try These Farmhouse Bathroom Ideas Today

All of these farmhouse bathroom ideas are easy swaps or  DIY projects, but they will make a huge difference in the design of your bathroom. Whether you try all of them or just pick a few to incorporate, you'll love having a fresh and updated look, and you can even accomplish the $100 room challenge.

Do you need help with your bathroom remodel project? Contact me for a virtual design consultation today and let's work together.